Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU | G19AS00083

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU" and the Funding Opportunity Number is G19AS00083.

Which federal agency is offering this award?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research award issued by the Department of the Interior (DOI), USGS, through the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK).

What type of award mechanism is being used?

The award is offered through a cooperative agreement, indicating an assistance award where substantial federal involvement is typically expected relative to a standard grant.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.

When was the competition created and when did it close?

The competition was created on July 8, 2019. The original closing date was July 22, 2019.

How many awards are expected?

The opportunity anticipates a single award (one expected award).

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $27,025.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to a CESU partner. In the opportunity listing, eligible applicants are shown as "Others," with the restriction explained in the opportunity's eligibility notes.

What is the main goal of the project?

The core purpose is to update and rigorously evaluate the current distribution of the Arizona Toad across a four-state region, using a statistically defensible survey design rather than relying only on opportunistic observations.

Which geographic area is covered by the study?

The project covers New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.

How many sites are expected to be surveyed?

The work focuses on surveying more than 100 historical locations where Arizona Toad has been documented previously, plus more than 50 randomly selected sites representing suitable habitat.

Why does the project include both historical and randomly selected sites?

Pairing historical occurrence locations with a randomized sample of potentially suitable habitat is intended to produce statistically defensible estimates of distribution change (for example, contraction, expansion, or shifts), rather than conclusions based solely on anecdotal updates.

How is this research tied to policy or management decisions?

The Arizona Toad is identified as a candidate for listing under the US Endangered Species Act. The data from this project are intended to help the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) make a better-informed listing decision by strengthening the evidence on the species' current distribution.

What field survey methods are anticipated?

The opportunity calls for a combination of calling surveys (listening for breeding calls), visual encounter surveys focused on potential breeding habitats, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling.

Will every survey method be used at every site?

No. The announcement specifies that not every method will be applied at every site, implying a flexible approach where methods are chosen based on site conditions, timing, access, and/or expected detection probability.

What is eDNA and why is it included in this project?

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling uses water samples to detect species presence from genetic material in the environment. It is highlighted as especially valuable for detecting the target species when animals are hard to observe directly and for supporting broader screening for additional conservation concerns.

Is the eDNA work limited to detecting Arizona Toad only?

No. The samples are also intended to support screening for other rare amphibians, invasive species, and pathogens that could threaten Arizona Toad populations.

What kinds of additional ecological risks or pressures may be evaluated through the eDNA samples?

Based on the opportunity description, eDNA samples are expected to help assess issues such as the presence of invasive species and the presence of pathogens that may pose risks to Arizona Toad populations, alongside information on other rare amphibians.

What are the required deliverables for this project?

The expected deliverables include: (1) development of an Arizona Toad eDNA assay including two primers and a probe; (2) a report providing statistically valid estimates of distribution change based on historical observations; and (3) a peer-reviewed journal article.

What does it mean to "develop an Arizona Toad eDNA assay" in this opportunity?

It means producing a targeted molecular detection tool for Arizona Toad that explicitly includes two primers and a probe, consistent with a sensitive and species-specific eDNA detection approach.

What is expected in the distribution-change report?

The report is expected to provide statistically valid estimates of distribution change using historical observations, meaning the analysis should quantify change and uncertainty rather than simply presenting a list of detections and non-detections.

Why is a peer-reviewed journal article required?

The requirement indicates the work should meet scientific publication standards and contribute to the broader research literature while also supporting near-term agency decision needs related to the species' status.

Which species is the focus of the surveys and analysis?

The project is focused on the Arizona Toad and determining its current distribution across the specified four-state region.

What is the intended use of the project results?

The results are intended to improve the evidence base for understanding where the Arizona Toad still occurs, where it may have been lost, and how its distribution may have changed, in support of USFWS decision-making regarding potential listing under the Endangered Species Act.